Type or matrix.



D. S. KENNEDY.

TYPE OR MATRIX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2a. 1315.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Am Q. KENNEDY, GE BBGGKEYN, NEW YQRIK, ABSIGNOR TO KEBGEHTHALEE LING- TYPE (WHEN, A GOMQRATION OE NEW YORK.

area on at Specification of matters Patent.

Application filed Jane 89, 1935. Serial No. 86,818

I I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID S. Knnnnnv, a citizen of the United States, residin at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and tats of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lype or hiatrices, of which the following is a spec1fication, reference being had therein to the accom anying drawing. 0

y' invention relates to type or matr ces for typographical machines, such as 11110- type machines of the represented in Letters atent of t e United States No. 436532, to Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to a pear in pr1nt and then assembled in line, t e composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or 11110- type a ainst the matrices which produce the t pa 0 aracters thereon, and the matr ces t ereafter returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. I

In such machines, the matrices are usually fed to the distributin mechanism by means of a lifting finger, w vidually from the line past an overlymg stop bar or rail which serves to prevent the detachment of more than one of them at a time. As the matrices of a font vary in thickness accordin to character, they are ordinarily provide at their upper ends with longitudinal cuts or notches so as to straddle the stop rail during their individual detachment, such notches varying in depth according to the thickness of the matrices so as to leave portions of substantially uniform thickness in all of them, whether large or small.

Heretofore, the notches just described have been formed by means of a rotary saw having a considerable radius, and they consequently acquire great extent in matrices of substantial thickness, extending practically throughout their length and resulting in an appreciable weakening. This weakening becomes quite serious in connection with the thicker matrices, and particularly those having head-letter or display characters, because the notches are not only necessarily of eater depth and length, but in addition suc large matrices are commonly formed with other longitudinal notches or grooves eneral or anization ich raises them indito remove as much metal as possible to lighten them.

My present invention is intended to overcome t e above objections, and aims to produce the matrices with separating notches of only such extent as is necessary to allow them to clear the overlying stop rail during their detachment from the line, the notches thus being of small and uniform extent throughout the set or font and thereby avoiding the weakening of the matrix bodies.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown my invention in preferred form and by way of example, but obviously man va- 'lations and alterations may be made t erem and in its mode of application without departure from its spirit. Generally speakmg, I desire it to be understood that I do 'not limit myself to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

F1 re 1 is a rear view of a portion of the d1str1 uting mechanism of a linotype machine, illustrating the use of matrices constructed in accordance with my invention;

Flg. 2 1s a perspective view of one of the matrices; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 2, respectively.

The matrices X are of the usual rectangular form, containing in one edge the formative cavity or character X", and provided with the customary supportin ears X and the tooth combination X fterv casting, the line of matrices is transferred through the distributin box A toward-the lifting finger A, which elevates them one at a time and delivers them to the conveying screws B whereby they are carried along the ide rails A onto the distributer bar B, al in the usual way. Just prior to its in depth,

A, and which thus clears the rail. It will be understood of course, that the ortions X are of uniform thickness in all t e matrices, so as to allow them, irrespective of size or thickness, to pass by. the rail A during their detachment from the line, and that consegluently the notches X must vary epending upon the thickness of the matrix.

Heretofore the notches X have been of considerable length, due to the great radius of the cutting 'saw by which they were formed, and extended practically throughout the length of the thicker matrices, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 1. As a result, the matrices were appreciably weakened, and particularly in that the necessary support was taken away from the front walls or edges of the matrices where in the formative characters are located, and further because there was the liability that the walls might sink or fall inwardly, causin the matrices to lose their proper rectangular form so that they would fail to lock u properly in the assembled line or fit cidsely against the mold when presented thereto. These objections are accentuated in the very large or thick matrices, wherein the notches are not only of great depth, but wherein other notches or outs, such as X shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, are made in the bodies to remove as much metal as possible for lightening purposes. Other ob ections are also present,for instance, the notches interfere with the formation of certain distributing notches which are located at the lower ends of the matrices ofsome fonts. Of course the above remarks apply principally to matrices of substantial thickness, as obviously the depth of the notches X in the thinner ones will be negligible, and indeed they. are entirely absent in the extremely tliin matrices, such as hair spaces and the li e. It is the aim of my present invention to avoid the foregoing ob ections, and to this end, the notches X throughout the font .are made of a uniform extent, corresponding approximately to the distance the matrices are raised by the lifting finger A during their detachment from the line. In this way, the matrices remain solid throughout the greater portion of their length, the notchesterminating above the middle of the matrix and well above the lowest point of its formative cavity X, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, thus affording a rigid or solid su port behind the cavity and preventin%t e sinking of its containing wall. In s ort, the presence of the notches as. made in accordance with my invention, does not impair thestrength of the matrices in any respect or allow them to lose their proper shape or form.

In the manufacture of my improved matrices, a hole X is first drilled through them from one side to the other, and the slot X is next cut outwardly from the hole by means of a suitabletool such as a milling or planing tool or the like. An air blast is employed during the slotting process to blow ofl the chi s, the hole X rnishing a good exit there or and greatly facilitating the operation. This method not only allows the matrices to be made with notches of the short and uniform len h described, but greatly simplifies and re uces the expense of their manu acture.

As previously stated, I have shown my invention only in preferred form and by way of example and as applied to a specific style of matrix. However, many modifications and alterations therein and in its mode of application will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departure from its scope.

Having thus described my invention, its constructlon and mode of opfiration, what I claim and desire to secure y Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A set or font of type or matrices, some formed at their up or ends with separatin slots or notches, t e said notches being 0 uniform extent throughout the font.

2. A set or font of type or matrices, some formed at their upper ends with separatin slots or notches, the said notches being 0 uniform extent throughout the font and terminating above the middle portions of the type or matrices.

3. A set or font of type or matrices, some formed at their upper ends with separating I slots or notches, the said notches being uniform extent throughout the font and terminatin above the lowest points of the type or matrix characters.

4. A set or font of type or matrices, some formed at their upper ends with separating slots or notches, the. said notches throughout the font being of uniform extent equal approximately to the distance the type or matrices are raised by the lifting finger of a distributer box in a linotype machine.

In testimony whereof, I have afixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID S. KENNEDY.

Witnesses HAROLD A. BURT, MARY BRANDT. 

